thoughts on touchless carwash

[Dewy]

What are your thoughts on touchless carwashes in the winter? I would be able to drive the truck straight home and then use the detail spray. Which is the lesser of two evils- the carwash or salt/cinders? Also, is there anything that helps prevent rust on the undercarriage, other than keeping as clean as possible? Thanks

[MaxT]

I believe salt is worse.

[4AudiQ]

I have run across this company, but I have never used their products:
Salt-X = The best salt and salt corrosion fighter!

[Mike McDonald]

Living in New England, washing during the winter is a must! However, I don't like my driveway becoming an ice skating rink...

I do from time to time run it through the touchless, but usually the cheapest one (least amount of chemicals). I then go home and get out my quick detail spray and then clean the windows.

It's a necessary evil. Unless you have a heated driveway.

[Chris's FX4]

I would definitely say the lesser of the two evils is the touchless car wash. Letting all that salt and crud sit on your truck all winter is just asking for trouble.

Being in Michigan for the winters and away from home, my only options are touchless car washes. There are two that I will only go too, and neither one seems to degrade the performance of my sealant much.

[LF911PCR]

Originally Posted by Mike McDonald

Living in New England, washing during the winter is a must! However, I don't like my driveway becoming an ice skating rink...

I do from time to time run it through the touchless, but usually the cheapest one (least amount of chemicals). I then go home and get out my quick detail spray and then clean the windows.

It's a necessary evil. Unless you have a heated driveway.

Absolutely...we have no choice...especially up here in New Hampshire. When we get into Jan and Feb....without a heated garage....a touchless is your only viable option.

[swanicyouth]

The thing with the TC is, the chemicals they use are more aggressive at cleaning (touch less cleaning) and are shortening the life of your expensive LSP. What I do a lot (especially when it's cold) is:

1. Go to the self serve wand wash with a bunch of quarters. Pressure wash there using only their water

2. Then while its wet, cleans wheels with safe wheel cleaner using boars hair brush for the face and EZ Wheel brush for the barrels.

3. Rinse car again and wheels. Rinse with their DI water. Blow dry with their blower

4. Do a waterless wash.

I guess I'm a die hard or just freakin' crazy because I will do this all winter long no matter how cold it it. The TC I go to has garage doors so you can pull down one side when your working. When its freezing, I'm the only idiot there, so I can stay in the bay all day.

[BobbyG]

Winter can be tough on our cars and trucks and a touch-less car-wash is far lesser of the two evils... Since you have a place to pamper it once you get home this makes even more sense...

[Dewy]

Thanks to all of you. Now I don't have to feel guilty when I go to the car wash.

[kingweb50]

I try to do a touchless wash to get the major stuff off and get the under body sprayed then go home and do a rinseless wash in my garage with warm water I get indoors